Where a solo tile setter business has the most room Our calculation
Carson City, NV ranks first. One-person building finishing work businesses there average $89,029 a year in revenue, with 16.8 building finishing work businesses for every 10,000 residents (typical metro: 22.5). We scored all 120 metros where the Census publishes building finishing work business counts.
- 1Carson CityNEVADA · NV · $89,029 avg solo revenue · 16.8 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fewer competitors per resident83
- 2NashvilleTENNESSEE · TN · $91,492 avg solo revenue · 28.6 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth76
- 3HuntsvilleALABAMA · AL · $66,659 avg solo revenue · 17.3 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fewer competitors per resident and fast population growth75
- 4DallasTEXAS · TX · $83,322 avg solo revenue · 25.8 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth75
- 5RaleighNORTH CAROLINA · NC · $82,045 avg solo revenue · 28.9 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth75
- 6OgdenUTAH · UT · $70,215 avg solo revenue · 17.5 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fewer competitors per resident and fast population growth73
- 7PhoenixARIZONA · AZ · $75,039 avg solo revenue · 21.5 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth and lots of new building72
- 8CrestviewFLORIDA · FL · $86,735 avg solo revenue · 38.0 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth71
- 9North PortFLORIDA · FL · $77,485 avg solo revenue · 40.4 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth70
- 10ColumbusOHIO · OH · $75,027 avg solo revenue · 24.7 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth and lots of new building69
- 11Salt Lake CityUTAH · UT · $78,824 avg solo revenue · 25.2 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue69
- 12TulsaOKLAHOMA · OK · $74,043 avg solo revenue · 23.6 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth68
- 13Oklahoma CityOKLAHOMA · OK · $73,937 avg solo revenue · 24.7 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth68
- 14FargoNORTH DAKOTA · ND · $76,018 avg solo revenue · 24.0 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth68
- 15ChattanoogaTENNESSEE · TN · $71,111 avg solo revenue · 23.8 building finishing work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth67
Weights: average solo revenue 3, fewer competitors per resident 3, revenue compared with the local employee wage 2, new home permits 2, population growth 1. Each factor is a percentile among these metros.
Top 5 by each factor Government data
Highest solo revenue
- Bridgeport, CT: $103,811
- Nashville, TN: $91,492
- Carson City, NV: $89,029
- Crestview, FL: $86,735
- Worcester, MA: $86,721
Least competition
- Visalia, CA: 8.5 per 10k residents
- Honolulu, HI: 11.4 per 10k residents
- San Jose, CA: 11.5 per 10k residents
- Stockton, CA: 11.5 per 10k residents
- Fresno, CA: 12.2 per 10k residents
Most new building
- North Port, FL: 19.8 home permits per 1k
- Cape Coral, FL: 16.6 home permits per 1k
- Punta Gorda, FL: 15.0 home permits per 1k
- Ocala, FL: 15.0 home permits per 1k
- St. George, UT: 14.5 home permits per 1k
Fastest-growing population
- Lakeland, FL: +19.8%
- St. George, UT: +17.4%
- Ocala, FL: +17.3%
- Port St. Lucie, FL: +16.0%
- Punta Gorda, FL: +15.5%
Every metro Government data
Click a column to sort. “Rate to match it” is the hourly rate you'd need to bill to replace the local employee median, at our default assumptions (25% for tax and benefits, $30,000 overhead, 1,400 billable hours). Try your own numbers in the rate calculator.
| # | Metro | Score | Solo revenue | Businesses / 10k people | Employee median | Rate to match it | Permits / 1k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carson City, NV | 83 | $89,029 | 16.8 | $58,380 | $74/hr | 9.8 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | 76 | $91,492 | 28.6 | $44,930 | $62/hr | 9.2 |
| 3 | Huntsville, AL | 75 | $66,659 | 17.3 | $46,680 | $63/hr | 8.7 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | 75 | $83,322 | 25.8 | $47,920 | $64/hr | 8.3 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | 75 | $82,045 | 28.9 | $44,860 | $61/hr | 11.8 |
| 6 | Ogden, UT | 73 | $70,215 | 17.5 | $47,330 | $64/hr | 5.5 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | 72 | $75,039 | 21.5 | $53,500 | $69/hr | 7.9 |
| 8 | Crestview, FL | 71 | $86,735 | 38.0 | $47,120 | $64/hr | 11.5 |
| 9 | North Port, FL | 70 | $77,485 | 40.4 | $45,630 | $62/hr | 19.8 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | 69 | $75,027 | 24.7 | $47,050 | $63/hr | 7.2 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | 69 | $78,824 | 25.2 | $49,990 | $66/hr | 6.0 |
| 12 | Tulsa, OK | 68 | $74,043 | 23.6 | $44,130 | $61/hr | 5.0 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | 68 | $73,937 | 24.7 | $44,530 | $61/hr | 5.9 |
| 14 | Fargo, ND | 68 | $76,018 | 24.0 | $53,460 | $69/hr | 5.8 |
| 15 | Chattanooga, TN | 67 | $71,111 | 23.8 | $36,740 | $54/hr | 5.1 |
| 16 | Punta Gorda, FL | 66 | $72,857 | 34.6 | $46,560 | $63/hr | 15.0 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | 66 | $75,385 | 21.8 | $64,930 | $79/hr | 10.0 |
| 18 | Idaho Falls, ID | 66 | $73,043 | 33.1 | $38,250 | $56/hr | 9.3 |
| 19 | Cape Coral, FL | 66 | $74,388 | 58.3 | $46,660 | $63/hr | 16.6 |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | 66 | $70,670 | 18.9 | $45,390 | $62/hr | 3.6 |
| 21 | Indianapolis, IN | 65 | $73,632 | 23.3 | $50,570 | $67/hr | 5.4 |
| 22 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | 65 | $64,566 | 19.6 | $46,940 | $63/hr | 8.2 |
| 23 | Bozeman, MT | 64 | $86,020 | 66.0 | $59,230 | $74/hr | 12.4 |
| 24 | Boise City, ID | 64 | $72,751 | 31.4 | $50,070 | $66/hr | 11.6 |
| 25 | Pensacola, FL | 63 | $67,217 | 24.0 | $44,510 | $61/hr | 6.3 |
| 26 | Provo, UT | 63 | $66,289 | 21.8 | $54,430 | $70/hr | 10.2 |
| 27 | Asheville, NC | 63 | $77,538 | 36.4 | $49,190 | $65/hr | 7.8 |
| 28 | Kansas City, MO | 62 | $75,430 | 22.7 | $57,100 | $72/hr | 4.5 |
| 29 | Sacramento, CA | 62 | $68,251 | 15.7 | $56,250 | $72/hr | 4.4 |
| 30 | Lexington, KY | 61 | $72,035 | 24.2 | $47,840 | $64/hr | 4.5 |
| 31 | San Luis Obispo, CA | 61 | $76,411 | 20.5 | $52,640 | $68/hr | 2.4 |
| 32 | St. George, UT | 61 | $68,062 | 35.5 | $45,120 | $62/hr | 14.5 |
| 33 | Reno, NV | 60 | $64,565 | 14.2 | $58,650 | $74/hr | 5.2 |
| 34 | Seattle, WA | 60 | $78,423 | 19.7 | $79,040 | $92/hr | 3.9 |
| 35 | Memphis, TN | 60 | $74,079 | 22.3 | $45,760 | $62/hr | 2.5 |
| 36 | Green Bay, WI | 60 | $76,389 | 21.8 | $61,790 | $77/hr | 4.3 |
| 37 | Colorado Springs, CO | 59 | $73,751 | 28.9 | $52,210 | $68/hr | 7.6 |
| 38 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 59 | $70,790 | 39.7 | $48,460 | $65/hr | 9.3 |
| 39 | Bridgeport, CT | 58 | $103,811 | 41.7 | $65,580 | $80/hr | 3.6 |
| 40 | Cincinnati, OH | 58 | $69,776 | 22.0 | $46,630 | $63/hr | 3.2 |
| 41 | New Haven, CT | 57 | $85,179 | 22.4 | $62,750 | $77/hr | 1.8 |
| 42 | Washington, DC | 57 | $75,414 | 27.2 | $49,180 | $65/hr | 2.8 |
| 43 | Chico, CA | 55 | $62,301 | 13.9 | $47,940 | $64/hr | 4.8 |
| 44 | San Jose, CA | 55 | $67,269 | 11.5 | $62,580 | $77/hr | 2.8 |
| 45 | Salem, OR | 55 | $70,052 | 19.6 | $58,970 | $74/hr | 3.2 |
| 46 | Bend, OR | 55 | $65,100 | 28.9 | $49,580 | $66/hr | 12.1 |
| 47 | Dayton, OH | 54 | $64,097 | 17.7 | $46,190 | $63/hr | 2.4 |
| 48 | Greensboro, NC | 54 | $68,437 | 27.7 | $49,160 | $65/hr | 4.9 |
| 49 | Worcester, MA | 54 | $86,721 | 30.0 | $58,930 | $74/hr | 1.9 |
| 50 | Twin Falls, ID | 53 | $61,384 | 21.9 | $44,320 | $61/hr | 5.6 |
| 51 | Grand Rapids, MI | 53 | $69,155 | 27.7 | $46,500 | $63/hr | 3.7 |
| 52 | Santa Maria, CA | 52 | $69,717 | 18.9 | $58,680 | $74/hr | 3.1 |
| 53 | Portland, OR | 52 | $67,849 | 18.5 | $61,900 | $77/hr | 3.3 |
| 54 | Minneapolis, MN | 52 | $77,196 | 24.8 | $71,750 | $85/hr | 3.9 |
| 55 | Philadelphia, PA | 52 | $75,872 | 20.4 | $70,730 | $85/hr | 2.1 |
| 56 | Jacksonville, FL | 51 | $63,811 | 32.6 | $45,440 | $62/hr | 8.0 |
| 57 | Winston, NC | 50 | $62,748 | 25.8 | $45,760 | $62/hr | 6.8 |
| 58 | Spokane, WA | 50 | $65,454 | 19.7 | $69,990 | $84/hr | 5.3 |
| 59 | Medford, OR | 50 | $65,918 | 21.3 | $50,440 | $66/hr | 4.2 |
| 60 | Richmond, VA | 50 | $62,620 | 23.7 | $50,130 | $66/hr | 6.8 |
| 61 | Milwaukee, WI | 49 | $73,679 | 20.5 | $64,160 | $79/hr | 2.0 |
| 62 | Albuquerque, NM | 49 | $58,945 | 13.6 | $46,020 | $63/hr | 3.1 |
| 63 | Bremerton, WA | 48 | $57,184 | 13.3 | $88,730 | $101/hr | 6.4 |
| 64 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | 48 | $64,376 | 24.5 | $47,520 | $64/hr | 4.4 |
| 65 | Las Cruces, NM | 48 | $53,528 | 20.9 | $34,970 | $53/hr | 3.7 |
| 66 | Ocala, FL | 47 | $60,411 | 33.4 | $45,110 | $62/hr | 15.0 |
| 67 | Stockton, CA | 47 | $57,709 | 11.5 | $58,970 | $74/hr | 3.2 |
| 68 | Oxnard, CA | 47 | $66,107 | 17.4 | $55,550 | $71/hr | 1.9 |
| 69 | Kiryas Joel, NY | 47 | $69,350 | 23.7 | $59,700 | $75/hr | 3.1 |
| 70 | Gainesville, FL | 47 | $51,882 | 20.0 | $46,330 | $63/hr | 10.5 |
| 71 | Palm Bay, FL | 47 | $60,692 | 25.0 | $47,320 | $64/hr | 7.3 |
| 72 | Riverside, CA | 47 | $61,029 | 16.8 | $54,850 | $70/hr | 3.4 |
| 73 | Las Vegas, NV | 46 | $42,658 | 13.6 | $63,540 | $78/hr | 6.2 |
| 74 | Deltona, FL | 45 | $61,732 | 32.3 | $46,480 | $63/hr | 7.7 |
| 75 | Lakeland, FL | 45 | $56,644 | 28.8 | $45,100 | $62/hr | 10.4 |
| 76 | Allentown, PA | 45 | $63,321 | 19.7 | $51,400 | $67/hr | 2.3 |
| 77 | Honolulu, HI | 45 | $67,049 | 11.4 | $86,850 | $99/hr | 1.4 |
| 78 | San Diego, CA | 45 | $62,207 | 17.0 | $58,240 | $73/hr | 3.6 |
| 79 | Santa Rosa, CA | 45 | $68,006 | 23.0 | $58,070 | $73/hr | 3.5 |
| 80 | San Antonio, TX | 45 | $63,239 | 30.3 | $44,690 | $61/hr | 4.0 |
| 81 | Tampa, FL | 45 | $63,030 | 34.1 | $46,280 | $63/hr | 6.9 |
| 82 | Naples, FL | 44 | $65,835 | 59.5 | $52,760 | $69/hr | 6.9 |
| 83 | Tucson, AZ | 44 | $57,103 | 18.5 | $50,550 | $67/hr | 4.4 |
| 84 | Redding, CA | 44 | $62,184 | 15.4 | $49,350 | $65/hr | 1.4 |
| 85 | Springfield, MO | 43 | $62,463 | 28.9 | $42,210 | $59/hr | 3.6 |
| 86 | Wichita, KS | 43 | $60,215 | 21.8 | $48,520 | $65/hr | 4.8 |
| 87 | Orlando, FL | 43 | $62,032 | 44.3 | $47,460 | $64/hr | 10.0 |
| 88 | Akron, OH | 41 | $65,954 | 24.5 | $46,760 | $63/hr | 1.1 |
| 89 | Visalia, CA | 41 | $50,734 | 8.5 | $71,280 | $85/hr | 3.7 |
| 90 | St. Louis, MO | 41 | $63,257 | 18.0 | $63,640 | $78/hr | 2.2 |
| 91 | Pittsburgh, PA | 41 | $64,054 | 18.6 | $65,750 | $80/hr | 2.4 |
| 92 | Youngstown, OH | 39 | $65,012 | 25.5 | $42,700 | $60/hr | 0.7 |
| 93 | Albany, NY | 39 | $60,692 | 18.2 | $57,670 | $73/hr | 2.3 |
| 94 | Kahului, HI | 39 | $66,203 | 27.9 | $64,330 | $79/hr | 5.5 |
| 95 | Virginia Beach, VA | 39 | $57,143 | 19.2 | $45,260 | $62/hr | 2.2 |
| 96 | Providence, RI | 38 | $69,950 | 28.8 | $57,290 | $73/hr | 1.7 |
| 97 | Evansville, IN | 38 | $55,230 | 15.6 | $60,590 | $76/hr | 3.0 |
| 98 | Fresno, CA | 38 | $41,501 | 12.2 | $54,310 | $70/hr | 3.0 |
| 99 | Miami, FL | 37 | $63,862 | 53.3 | $48,290 | $65/hr | 3.8 |
| 100 | San Francisco, CA | 37 | $61,465 | 14.2 | $64,430 | $79/hr | 1.7 |
| 101 | Santa Cruz, CA | 37 | $63,861 | 19.6 | $59,770 | $75/hr | 1.8 |
| 102 | Lafayette, LA | 36 | $55,544 | 29.8 | $40,580 | $58/hr | 5.0 |
| 103 | Los Angeles, CA | 36 | $59,520 | 16.0 | $58,600 | $74/hr | 2.1 |
| 104 | Modesto, CA | 36 | $50,461 | 13.8 | $50,970 | $67/hr | 2.2 |
| 105 | Rochester, NY | 36 | $62,387 | 18.3 | $61,710 | $77/hr | 1.7 |
| 106 | Springfield, MA | 34 | $63,135 | 19.3 | $67,070 | $81/hr | 0.7 |
| 107 | Cleveland, OH | 34 | $64,505 | 27.9 | $49,910 | $66/hr | 1.9 |
| 108 | Syracuse, NY | 32 | $53,443 | 17.8 | $60,290 | $75/hr | 3.1 |
| 109 | Grand Junction, CO | 32 | $61,688 | 33.7 | $58,680 | $74/hr | 5.1 |
| 110 | Salinas, CA | 32 | $55,206 | 14.7 | $58,430 | $74/hr | 1.8 |
| 111 | Chicago, IL | 30 | $63,517 | 22.1 | $74,670 | $88/hr | 1.7 |
| 112 | Burlington, VT | 29 | $58,240 | 29.0 | $55,890 | $71/hr | 5.5 |
| 113 | Sebastian, FL | 29 | $61,871 | 35.9 | $47,170 | $64/hr | 1.5 |
| 114 | Buffalo, NY | 28 | $50,626 | 14.9 | $58,250 | $73/hr | 1.3 |
| 115 | Kalamazoo, MI | 28 | $54,671 | 19.6 | $60,010 | $75/hr | 1.9 |
| 116 | Detroit, MI | 27 | $60,806 | 29.3 | $47,800 | $64/hr | 2.0 |
| 117 | Toledo, OH | 27 | $51,942 | 19.6 | $45,090 | $62/hr | 0.8 |
| 118 | New York, NY | 25 | $56,265 | 22.6 | $61,410 | $76/hr | 2.2 |
| 119 | New Orleans, LA | 18 | $50,020 | 25.5 | $44,130 | $61/hr | 1.7 |
| 120 | Lancaster, PA | 16 | $59,367 | 38.0 | $66,130 | $80/hr | 2.3 |
How to read this
Revenue is what one-person businesses take in before expenses, not take-home pay. A high figure with lots of competitors per resident usually means a busy but crowded market; a lower figure with few competitors can mean room to grow. Business counts come from the Census Nonemployer Statistics (2024) and County Business Patterns (2023), grouped as “building finishing work”, so they include some firms outside the trade itself.
For pay as an employee in any of these cities, see the tile setter salary overview or the best cities for tile setters to work.
Census Nonemployer Statistics 2024; County Business Patterns 2023; Census Building Permits 2025; Census population estimates; BLS OEWS May 2025. Our data